Show us your C&V Gravel Grinders
02-09-12, 07:27 PM
#77
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02-09-12, 08:15 PM
#78
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What a time capsule, oberthecat. I always wanted one of those Manitous. Thanks for posting
02-09-12, 08:17 PM
#79
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My daughter rides dirt roads on this '74 PA10 with PX10 parts. I geared it down with 48X40 chain rings and a 14X28 freewheel. The tires are 28mm cyclocross tubulars. She insisted that I add the interrupter levers.
02-09-12, 08:41 PM
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https://www.suspensionforkparts.net/e...iewCat&catId=8
Not cheap, but that bike may be worth keeping around.
02-09-12, 08:56 PM
#81
working on my sandal tan
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they are 700x30 kenda kwick tires. i dont have a lot of experience with cross tires but i hate these. it feels like you are riding in a bucket of wallpaper paste. i got them for free from a local guy that took them off his new cross bike in favor of something much nicer. he said new tires made a world of difference.
Now that much of the tread has worn away, they're not as much work to propel, but I am looking forward to the day I replace these. Seems like Ritchey Speedmax would perform similarly on paved roads -- are they better somehow?- Scott
02-09-12, 09:08 PM
#82
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The Speedmax is a decent gravel tire when things are dry.
The outer nubs help in loose gravel when you are turning. They seem to give extra grab.
They also roll fairly well on paved roads and concrete.
On the downside, the road feel is nothing near a Ruffy Tuffy for example.
The big plus is the price.
I bought a set for $25.
The outer nubs help in loose gravel when you are turning. They seem to give extra grab.
They also roll fairly well on paved roads and concrete.
On the downside, the road feel is nothing near a Ruffy Tuffy for example.
The big plus is the price.
I bought a set for $25.
02-09-12, 09:31 PM
#83
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The Speedmax is a decent gravel tire when things are dry.
The outer nubs help in loose gravel when you are turning. They seem to give extra grab.
They also roll fairly well on paved roads and concrete.
On the downside, the road feel is nothing near a Ruffy Tuffy for example.
The big plus is the price.
I bought a set for $25.
The outer nubs help in loose gravel when you are turning. They seem to give extra grab.
They also roll fairly well on paved roads and concrete.
On the downside, the road feel is nothing near a Ruffy Tuffy for example.
The big plus is the price.
I bought a set for $25.
02-09-12, 11:07 PM
#84
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If a mix with paved road feel is important than then the Challenge Grifo XS (32c) roll REALLY nice...if you ride looser stuff then I have had good luck with Kenda Small Block 8s (32 or 35c)...My 2c.
02-09-12, 11:17 PM
#85
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A Grifo XS is a fabulous choice.
Used these with my Bruce Gordon for a summer.
Again, I have friends that recommend Small Block 8s as well. Great price!
02-10-12, 08:13 AM
#87
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Robert, at some point you're going to have to turn your camera around for some shots of the interior of whatever shed/outbuilding/garage/shop/home LBS you turn these projects out from-- you a wrenching mad man, and i'd love to see where it all comes from
02-10-12, 04:03 PM
#89
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And here's my wife on her Pug.
Road starts out gravel, turns to dirt, mud, and back to gravel.
The mud wasnt deep but kind of squirrley!
Road starts out gravel, turns to dirt, mud, and back to gravel.
The mud wasnt deep but kind of squirrley!
02-10-12, 04:10 PM
#90
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Oh, how did I miss this thread??!! I will have to go back and read all the posts, but for now this is the bike I purpose-built for dirt roads, fire trails and general unpaved surfaces. I had never heard the term "gravel grinder". I took a 1984 Shogun 1500 touring bike and converted it to 650B, while also having some other modifications done to the frame by a local frame builder, followed by a nice new powder coat. It wears 41mm wide Grand Bois Hetres and has gearing to climb dirt hills like a mountain goat. It has seen more dirt and gravel than pavement:
This is my favorite type of road (from the D2R2 ride in Western MA):
Another road from this past summer's D2R2 ride:
A local rail trail outside of Boston:
View from the cockpit:
The hetres seriously make riding on dirt feel like riding on a cloud, but next year I might consider swapping them out for something with a more aggressive tread. The hetres tend to slide around in really deep mud, and they also lose some traction on loose dirt on steep hills (like some of the short 20% grades that D2R2 is known for).
This is my favorite type of road (from the D2R2 ride in Western MA):
Another road from this past summer's D2R2 ride:
A local rail trail outside of Boston:
View from the cockpit:
The hetres seriously make riding on dirt feel like riding on a cloud, but next year I might consider swapping them out for something with a more aggressive tread. The hetres tend to slide around in really deep mud, and they also lose some traction on loose dirt on steep hills (like some of the short 20% grades that D2R2 is known for).
Last edited by southpawboston; 02-10-12 at 04:18 PM.
02-10-12, 09:21 PM
#92
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They're bikes; I don't think you can do it wrong as long as you don't Drew something or ride around like a salmoning ninja fixie hipster.
Southpaw - I need to see if I can get back for this D2R2 thing. Looks like fun. In the past that date used to coincide with the summer vacation in central Mass, but my son's football has made us push the annual pilgrimage earlier. Does it usually sell out? I'm starting to scheme about coming back by myself for the weekend.
Last edited by XLR99; 02-10-12 at 09:31 PM.
02-10-12, 09:32 PM
#93
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Definitely not! English 3-speeds are great on rough surfaces... arguably, that's what they're designed for. 
My Armstrong would probably make the best gravel bike out of my collection, but I've kinda babied it so far...
My Armstrong would probably make the best gravel bike out of my collection, but I've kinda babied it so far...
02-10-12, 09:53 PM
#94
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It's now sporting a set of Pasela TG 1.75's a rear rack with rollup panniers
Lots-a fun on gravel or snow!
Lots-a fun on gravel or snow!
02-11-12, 08:34 PM
#95
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This is my wife's Norco.
I just installed the cream tires and Bianchi aluminium wheels last week.
We will be getting a matching saddle soon.
02-13-12, 04:02 PM
#96
Just keep pedalling!
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My 1972 Raleigh Grand Sports handles the gravel surprisingly well and is a blast to ride!
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02-14-12, 07:35 PM
#98
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When I grind gravel I generally use one of these:
,
both of which currently have fenders, and the Bianchi has a Brooks, knackered faux-leather bar-tape, Noodles, and 28c GB's.
Or this guy, which gets ridden exactly as pictured:
edit: Whoops, the Cross-Check isn't C or V. Oh well, try and enjoy it anyhow.
,both of which currently have fenders, and the Bianchi has a Brooks, knackered faux-leather bar-tape, Noodles, and 28c GB's.
Or this guy, which gets ridden exactly as pictured:
edit: Whoops, the Cross-Check isn't C or V. Oh well, try and enjoy it anyhow.
02-14-12, 07:45 PM
#99
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A few weeks ago, some of us took a ride the tow paths next to the Delaware River, just a bit north of Trenton. We rode "club racer" type bikes, with fenders. The fenders turned out to be a huge liability. Mud got between the tires and the fenders. On some of our bikes, it got packed into the fenders very hard, and we had to chip it away vigorously, because the wheel couldn't not turn at all. It caused several breakdowns, and my fenders even got damaged as a result. So be warned not to ride in mud with low-clearance fenders.
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Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
02-14-12, 07:57 PM
#100
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Impressive how the entire bike is mud-covered except the bar tape, though.
And you're going to need to post more pics of that third bike. Looks like a CCM with uber-cool chain guard.